Lockhart is the county seat of Caldwell County which is centrally located just 15 miles from Austin, 5 miles from Interstate 35 and San Marcos with Interstate 10 running through Luling at the southern tip of the county. The new SH-130 will be bisecting the county from the north to the southwest.

R. B. Herzog passed away on Jan. 22, 2014 at the age of 82 in Austin, Texas. R. B. Herzog was born July 12, 1931 in Kyle, Texas to Bertha Schaefer and Gustav Otto Herzog, the youngest of six children. R. B. Herzog attended Kyle schools including the historical Kyle High School. He was co-captain of the six-man football team, played basketball, tennis and all of the sports available with a limited amount of sports wearing apparel. He graduated in 1949.

During R. B.’s youth, he ran paper routes in the Kyle area to a great many houses for San Antonio Light, Austin American, and the Austin American Statesman. R.B. added a small engine to his bicycle to speed up his paper routes. R.B.’s spare time was spent in his father’s Kyle blacksmith shop where wagon wheels were brought in for repair. After graduation, R. B. worked for Dupree Oil Company and the Houston Meat Company in San Marcos.

On July 10, 1951, R.B. left Kyle and became a member of the United States Air Force with his beloved friend, Jimmie Dick Dickens (1931-2012). R.B. was stationed for training at Lackland AFB before being transferred to Scott AFB in Belleville, Ill., where his occupation was an airborne mechanic. R.B. was then stationed in Kempo, Korea, working with communications on the AFB on the F-86 Sabre Jet during the Korean War. On his return to the United States, he was stationed at Sheppard AFB, Wichita Falls, Texas. He was later transferred to Foster AFB, Victoria, Texas as an airborne communications inspector. Received an honorable discharge from the United States Air Force, R.B. returned to Kyle to be employed at Edward Gary AFB, San Marcos, Texas as a communication equipment inspector for William J. Graham.

On Dec. 28, 1956, R.B. married the love of his life, Alice Homann from Lockhart, Texas.

In 1959, R.B. was hired to set up and maintain the Missile Command for Nike Hercules in Central Texas which was recognized nationally for excellence in readiness. After the missile site was moved out of Central Texas, R.B. went to work for the United States Air Force at Bergstrom AFB and stayed until his retirement in 1986 as a communication specialist where he touched many young military’s lives.

To this day, he still gets visits and calls from his students. After retirement, R.B. founded his own insurance agency and branch for Hochheim Prairie Farm Mutual Insurance Company.

R.B. has always enjoyed the Texas Longhorn Baseball games and became a regular attendee to the games at Disch-Falk Field and other surrounding stadiums. Having the chance to attend the College World Series was one of his highlights in life, as well as the Big 12 Tournaments. R.B. was very interested in youth athletics and worked to make a place for the youth to play baseball. R.B. also was hugely involved in rebuilding the fields at Rex Kitchen Field in the early 1970s. R.B. was instrumental in bringing Boys Baseball, now named Pony Ball to the local area. His spare time was spent at Rex Kitchen Field in Manchaca maintaining the grounds and developing the program to become one of the best in Central Texas. R.B. was also very involved in the Junior League Football for several years.

R.B. was always rewarded later for his dedicated long hours, when these same boys express their appreciation when they met up with him. These young men never forgot what he did for them at the ballpark.

R.B. also enjoyed fishing and. taught his children as well as many of the neighborhood kids to fish and they still enjoy this hobby today. R.B. always enjoyed maintaining his vegetable victory gardens throughout his life.

R.B. Herzog is survived by his loving wife of 57 years, Alice Homann Herzog; his three children, Roger Herzog and wife, Sheila, of San Antonio, Jackie Lockwood and husband, Bert, of Manor and Randy Herzog and wife, Kris, of Dripping Springs. He also leaves grandchildren, Travis Herzog and wife, Erin, Meredith Herzog McGhee and husband, Chris, Russell Herzog, Audra Lockwood, Jennifer Lockwood Urea and husband, David, and Cooper Herzog. Great-Grandchildren include: Caleb, Luke and Karis Herzog; Celsey McGhee; and Gia and David Jr. Urea. He is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews.

R.B. is preceded in death by his parents, Gustav and Bertha Herzog; brothers, Walter, Herbert, Woodrow and J.B. (“Cotton”); and sister, Alice Clark.